Cliff Wilson and Kyle Winders working up fish on the shore of DeSoto Lake. - FWS photo by Sara Marso

Cliff Wilson and Brian Elkington with the spoils of night electrofishing at DeSoto Lake. - FWS photo by Jake Norman

During the last week of May staff from Columbia FWCO, DeSoto NWR, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources teamed up to sample DeSoto Lake in Missouri Valley, Iowa. 

This sampling was completed as part of a long-term monitoring and management program started in the 1970’s.  The four-day sampling included both day and night electrofishing as well as fyke netting. 

Although hail storms made sampling difficult at times and impossible at others we were able to safely and successfully collect the required data.  The fish species most abundantly sampled were bluegill, green sunfish and common carp. 

That data can now be analyzed and incorporated into the annual DeSoto Lake Management Plan.  Our team of inter-jurisdictional biologists can then make management decisions to help improve DeSoto Lake recreational fishing.